Reflection on the United Nations Seminar
Lena Chen
Sustainable Systems
11/03/2018
The visit to the United Nations was more educational and interactive than I expected. The speakers introduced a wide range of topics including sustainable fashion, climate justice, city planning, life science, etc.
Among these topics, I’m most interested in city planning, specifically the design of public areas. Anne Dorte Riggelsen talked about the history and development of Copenhagen, which were illustrated in visuals, maps and statistics. I could see Denmark government made efforts each year to promote public areas, mostly covered by greens, for city residents to enjoy, relax and take a break from busy life. I think New York does this pretty well. Although the city is crowded with buildings, public areas are preserved and protected for years. The most representative examples are Central Park, Union Square Park, and Washington Square Park.
I also like the discussion of climate justice. According to Mary Robinson Foundation CJ Principles, climate justice is a human right. I think it is also an obligation that every single citizen bears, because right always comes with obligation. Some people ignore the fact that most resources are not in endless supply. We must accept that they are limited and it’s a crucial and urgent task for us to save them. The speaker brought up several points that help to raise awareness, which I think all make sense. He mentioned about generating good, stable meaningful jobs, broadening access to opportunities and benefits. Effective solutions basically focus on achieving the overall well-being of our communities by improving economics, physical health and mentality. This reminds me of the interconnected relationship between systems. If people are having a better life, they will be more committed to building a sustainable environment.
